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 This is truly blues with an edge. No lazy "going through the
motions" playing - everybody is on their toes, very much connected to
each other. Tremendous interplay, very live feeling, lots of closeness in the
sound: these guys are playing up a storm in your living room!
Five originals, five 'covers'. First out is "If Love Was A
Train" by Michelle Shocked (not yer average 12bar blues purveyor!
Full points for that!), a fast'n'furious "take no prisoners"
shuffle. Followed by "Get Out Of Jail" with a good-timey
intro, tinkling piano, sliding guitar. A jerky New Orleans rhythm changing
gear into a glorious free-for-all.
"Diplomat" is a funky workout with wahwah guitar: Ben
Sidran meets Jimi Hendrix. "Slow Train" opens up with a
solitary slide guitar figure, becoming the backbone of this little
masterpiece. A bit Dylan-ish, not only in the song title. Beautiful tone in
that ringing guitar.
"Remington Ride" makes you hum along, tapping your feet.
Good set opener/closer I'm sure. Strict playing at first, then the wahwah goes
pedal to the metal. "Rhythm Of Life" has a playful rhythm,
wahwah guitar again, tinkling piano, great chord sequence and a nice series of
false endings.
"Brand New Friend" gives you a beautiful twangin' guitar
across the prairie land. Wistful piano, impassioned guitar. "T-Bone
Shuffle" is well executed. A blues bar standard in my neighbourhood:
perhaps that song is a bit worn as CD material.
"She's A Burglar" has a great guitar intro, lots of
Hammond power, funky bass and drums and a finely developed guitar solo. "Good
Thing Is About To Run Out" (yes, it's the closing track!) has good
dynamics: a menacing atmosphere, tremolo bar & wahwah guitar and
hell-for-leather playing. Stand back!
Good solid vocals all over the place - but I was so stunned by the sheer
musicianship that I missed to pen that obvious fact down!
An amazing album this one which (like Hershey's new one) should not be kept
a secret on the blues shelves. And the live feeling of this CD spells out
forcefully that they must be even more overpowering on stage than in my living
room! Do not miss out!
Christer, June 18 2001 (from Fridhammer.com)
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